Proof-reading of DIY chapter background

[Maritn]

Hello folks,

Now that I have painted almost 2400 points, I thought it would be time to get the background of my Yellow Templars done. I haven’t read any novels so far, so I don’t know the fluff even half as good as most people here on the B&C. That’s why I need your help: Could you please have a look at my chapter’s background, to see if it makes sense?  

I imagine my Yellow Templars as a knightly chapter, inspired by the crusader knights and not unlike the Black Templars, crusading in the name of the Emperor: “Imperator lo vult”. They believe the only way to find salvation is to conquer lost sanctuaries / sacred sites or hunting down heretics. I know, this is not the most innovative background, but I really like this crusader knights theme, so I’ll stick with it.  

I created the background using the chapter creation tables from 1d4chan, randomly determining two options and then choosing one of them. In a few cases, I didn’t like any of the results (or thought they would not fit with the rest), so I chose what I preferred (these are the entries marked with a *).

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Yellow Templars

 

 

Why founded: Crusade

When founded: Unkown

Progenitor: Unkown*

Gene-seed purity: New Generation

Demeanour: Suffer not the work of heretics

Figure of Legend: Master of Sanctity

Deeds of Legend: Lost in a warp accident (Crusade fleet was lost while hunting Heretic Astartes)

Homeworld: Fleet-based (After the chapter’s homeworld (a feudal world) was destroyed during a warp storm. The chapter usually consists of three crusade fleets, operating independently from each other, to prevent another catastrophe like the one that destroyed their homeworld.)

Organisation: unique

Combat doctrine: Lightning Strike / Mechanized Assault*

Chapter Training: Duty onto death*

Special Equipment: Preferred Fighting Style (Swords, Power Fists)

Beliefs: The Emperer Above All

Strength: Normal (reinforced by Primaris)

Friendly with: Adepta Sororitas / Black Templars

Enemies: Heretic Astartes

 

 

 

[Brother Tyler]

I have moved this topic over the Liber Astartes forum.

[Brother Tyler]

It looks like these were developed from charts originally found in Rites of Battle, a supplement for Fantasy Flight Games' (now Cubicle Seven's) Deathwatch roleplaying game, albeit modified. Since it's mostly just basic data, there isn't a lot to "proofread" at the moment. The real work will be in developing the data into a more cohesive background, presumably some mini-codex or article format such as an Index Astartes article.

 

Personally, I'm not a fan of "Yellow Templars" as the name. Certain colors don't lend themselves well towards names, and "yellow" will make too many think of "cowardly." It wouldn't be difficult to find some other name while preserving the color scheme. Other names that evoke the color include golden, gold, and auric. Alternately, you don't even need to use the "color Templars" naming scheme, using some other convention. I'm assuming that you're using a yellow color scheme. Perhaps the yellow evokes the sun or the Emperor, in which case you could reference the Emperor, "Imperial," or Sol/Terra in the name. If you want to evoke the crusading military orders of Christendom, you might look at the myriad names used by those orders. It would be best to avoid those whose names evoke anachronistic places or people (e.g., the Teutonic Knights, the Order of Calatrava, etc.). Alternately, you might consider the role that the Chapter performs. Examples of this, especially among the Successors of the VIIth Legion, include the Executioners and Invaders.

 

I recommend taking a gander at the variety of resources available in the Liber forums, especially the finished articles in the Liber Showcase (which come in a variety of formats).

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The name "Yellow Templars" makes me think the Chapter is an Imperial Fist successor with close ties to the Black Templars. You may as well have the Marines claim Rogal Dorn is their Primarch. You're free to add some ambiguity to the claim. For example:

 

Yellow Templars Captain: "We will endure any hardship, for Dorn and the Emperor!"

 

Death Guard Captain: "How dare you forsake your true father, Mortarion! Argh!"

 

Yellow Templars Captain (preparing to shoot out the Death Guard member's other eye): "How dare you slander us! We will avenge this insult!"

 

By the way, what does yellow symbolize for your Marines? Valor (see the Medal of Valor, Israel's highest military decoration)?

[Ishagu]

From the name and limited background they almost sound like an Imperial Fist successor, similar to the Black Templars, so the Gene seed being unknown doesn't feel like it comes into play unless there is something obviously different about the Chapter or their culture.

 

It's a solid start, but try to think of something that would make them more distinctive from the various IF successors. A lot of the unknown founding chapters have quirks or unique traits.

[Brother Tyler]

Note that Chapters don't need to be descended from Rogal Dorn to be crusading Chapters. The Marines Errant, a Successor of the Ultramarines, are a fleet-based Chapter, for example. Most of the Unforgiven Chapters descended from the Dark Angels Legion are also comparable to crusading Chapters (with most focusing their "crusade" on the Hunt for the Fallen). You might also consider the predation-nomad Carcharodons Astra, likely descended from the Raven Guard Legion. Realistically, a crusading Chapter could be descended from any Legion.

 

I'm assuming your Chapter iconography includes the Maltese cross used by the Black Templars with a predominantly yellow color scheme, hence your "Yellow Templars" Chapter name. You don't have to be descended from the VIIth Legion to use the Maltese cross, however. The Imperial Paladins, for example, use the Maltese cross with skull as their Chapter icon, though their gene-seed lineage is unknown. Various cruciform devices are common among the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, regardless of gene-seed lineage.

 

Similarly, being "knightly" isn't confined to the VIIth Legion (or Ist Legion) Successors. In truth, all Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes are "knightly" to one degree or another. Successors of other Legions are also known to be knightly, such as the Fire Angels (Ultramarines Successor), Howling Griffons (Ultramarines Successors). Similarly, it might be expected that Chapters that include "knights" in their name might be knightly to some degree or another. For example, Blood Angels Successors include the Crimson Knights, Red Knights, and Sable Knights; the Knights of the Raven are Successors of the Raven Guard Legion; and the Knights of Byzantium are Successors of the Iron Hands Legion.

 

My point here is that you've developed concepts based on simplistic associations, but you shouldn't feel constrained to stick with those concepts. The background allows for considerably more diversity in background.

[CCE1981]

“Yellow Templars” - are they cowards? - try Auromite, Golden, or Amber Templars

 

Crusade - for what purpose? Develop this more, why was the Crusade made? This is far to broad. Why aren’t they still Black Templars?

 

Gene Seed Purity - ???? If they are a “new generation” they should know who their gene father is. Note, pick one you like but pick Chapter traits based off what you like.

 

Legendary Figure - this is the Title of the highest ranking Chaplain. Who is this person?

 

Why / How did they receive Primaris reinforcements?

[Rik Lightstar]

You've got a really good start from those generated traits. The next step is to flesh them out and to decide how much each thing defines them.

 

A few thoughts about this......

 

I can't help but agree on the point about the name, yellow is a really impactful colour on an army but I think there are better words to associate with the colour. 

• Possibly consider Heraldic Beasts that are associated with yellow/gold like Lions, Leopards, Griffons, Dragons, etc, or Heraldic Icons such as Stars, Suns, Crowns
• Solar, Celestial, Radiant for example would work well with them being a bright yellow.
• Having Templars in the name will always draw people to associate them with Black Templars, is this something you want? Lots of other Chapters have "knightly traits" from all sorts of heritages too which have been mentioned, Ultramarine and Dark Angels Successors are good examples.

Have you settled on any iconography for your Chapter?

• Specifically a Chapter badge, this can lead you into different/better naming choices
• Choices for rank markings, how are Sergeants and Leaders made more identifiable?

You've got "Suffer not the work of Heretics" in there, do they have relationships or associations with other Imperial bodies beyond the Templars and Sisters?

• The Ministorum or Inquisition spring to mind initially, but is that a friendly relationship or not?

Combat Doctrines and Beliefs of being fast moving and dedicated to their faith in the Emperor give facets to build on too.

 

 

 

Try to avoid focussing on a single "real world" inspiration, most of the 40k societies are a blend of multiple influences, if you take just one they can end up become a bit one dimensional.

 

You could take almost everything from your traits that you've mentioned and have for example, the "Solar Dragons" suspected Salamanders successors initially from a desert planet with middle eastern influences, nomadic tribes always on the move but with a high tech level. Their home world having been lost to a Chaos uprising after they CHOSE to enact Exterminatus on it to burn away the shame of it happening under their noses. They're now on a self-imposed Penitent Crusade. The Inquisition doesn't trust them after what happened and believes they're covering up evidence of something wrong within the Chapter.

 

 

 

TLDR; I like those kinds of generators for giving the SEEDS of an idea, but it's up to you which have taken root and you're in no way obliged to keep everything. Nurture the bits you like and prune what you don't.

 

Rik

[Maritn]

Thank you very much everybody for your detailed answers, they are really helpful and give great input to improve the background.

Brother Tyler, you're spot on with the iconography / heraldry: They are mostly yellow, with black helmets, arms and right shoulders, and a black Maltese Cross on yellow on the left shouler. During 8th edition, it looked like GW might slowly let Black Templars die in favour of the Adepta Sororitas (not even a single Primaris model in the codex, not even in Faith & Fury), so going straight BT didn't sound future proof. When deciding to go DIY, I tried to visually and thematically stay close to BT, so I could potentially play them as count-as BT.

Wow, I did not know, that "yellow" in the name corresponds to "cowardly". My chapter started out as Imperial Fists (without any symbols), but when the supplements came out, I found the IF one to be the most boring one, so I played with the White Scars supplement and decided to make them my own chapter. The reasons why I chose this name is that there are already Black, Red and White Templars, so I thought the name <XXX> Templars immediately shows the theme the chapters is supposed to have. And maybe most importantly, that it's easy to pronounce and and does not need a lot of explaining when playing in Germany or Austria. ;-) But I'll have to come up with a better name then.
The background "story" for the colour is that this were the traditional colours of their (now destroyed) home world.

Regarding the progenitor, I wanted to be flexible so I would not be "forced" to play with a specific ruleset. I know that a specific Primarch does not necessarily mean the same fighting style, but I thought I'd be on the safe side this way. I don't know how often successors deviate in a way the Black Templars do, but if doing so does still keep me flexible, I wouldn't have a problem choosing a fixed progenitor.

[Brother Tyler]

The association of the color yellow with cowardice isn't universal. More importantly, modern symbolism for colors wouldn't necessarily apply in our fictional setting 38,000 years in the future. The "problem" I cited is merely that players might make this association, and some might make comments. Realistically, there's no reason you can't keep the name if you like it.

 

If your goal is to have as much flexibility as possible, presumably to allow you to play using any set of rules you like, I recommend against creating a detailed background. Over the years, plenty of very characterful Chapters have been presented with a very limited background focus. The Third War for Armgeddon gave us compelling stories about the Exorcists, Celestial Lions, and Relictors without telling us their gene-seed lineage, key leaders, organization, or other important details. This is an issue I discuss in more depth in this topic (complete with the text of the original Celestial Lions story as an example). If you'd like to see the original brief Third War for Armageddon introductions for the Exorcists and Relictors, I have included them in the codex supplements I developed for each here (Exorcists) and here (Relictors, under their original name of "Fire Claws"). The popularity of all three of these Chapters grew from these very brief introductions, inspiring numerous players to collect armies based on much less detail than players wrongly demand from DIY Index Astartes articles. In essence, the more detail you provide for your Chapter, the more you limit yourself. You can portray the essence of the Chapter without too much detail, though, giving yourself flexibility, by limiting what you tell us about the Chapter.

[Gamiel]

a black Maltese Cross on yellow on the left shouler.

Just want to ad that you don't need to keep to a Maltese Cross as a symbol, the Red Templars use a white fleur de lys on red; the White Templars use a white, eight-pointed cross-crosslet on black; and the Silver Templars' badge is a black sword point upwards, centred between two black, downward-directed lightning bolts, on yellow.

 

Also the historical Knigths Templars' seal was a double-sided seal which showed a representation of the Dome of the Rock on one side, and two knights on one horse on the other side.

 

 

Wow, I did not know, that "yellow" in the name corresponds to "cowardly".

Yellow is also the imperial colour (among other things) in China - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_in_Chinese_culture#Yellow

 

 

I imagine my Yellow Templars as a knightly chapter,

This thread is full of possible concepts for a knightly chapter

 

 

 

 

I suggest giving the Yellow Templar somethings that are not something you see among the Black Templars, at least within their chapter cult. So they at least when it comes to the fluff are not just the Black Templars in different colours. If you are still creating your force you could use some non-BT character and/or upgrade kits parts to give them some feeling of difference to the BT.

 

Also, you wrote "organisation: unique", can you expand on that?

Edited August 7, 2021 by Gamiel

[Gamiel]

Beliefs: The Emperer Above All

 

Here is a list of possible concepts based on the "The Emperer Above All" chapter culture concept - which was described as “The Chapter holds the Emperor as the ultimate object of its devotions. This is especially likely to be the case with Chapters of a later Founding, who maintain less in the way of contact with the Progenitor than older, more closely-tied Successors. Some Chapters, for whatever reason, are actually unaware of who their Progenitor was, and as such are likely to centre their worship on either the Emperor, who created the Primarchs, or on one of their own founding fathers.”:

1. A Chapter that considers mauls and powerclaws illfortune weapons since it was those that Horus used to wound the Emperor.

2. Have great respect for Navigators since they can see the Emperor’s light in the form of the Asronomicon.

3. The Chapter’s vehicles and armour are usually covered in illuminated texts extracted from tomes sacred to the Adeptus Astartes.

4. Speak mostly in quotes from ancient text describing the Emperor from when He walked the galaxy.

5. Have great respect for astropaths since they have stood before the Emperor.

6. A Chapter based solely on the use and study of the power of Imperial Faith that Chaplains utilize.

7. A Chapter that doesn’t have a Chapter-Master, instead its lead by a council consisting of the Chapter’s Chaplains.

8. A Chapter that has an unusual high amount of Chaplains.

9. A Chapter that frequently partner with the Ecclesiarchy in searching out archeotech, holy relics, and/or new sources of knowledge. This search/gather is likely often done to the point where these considerations outweigh other military factors.

10. They guarded a pilgrimage route to one of the one of the holy sites where the Emperor walked before His crippling. Maybe even one of the paths to Holy Terra.

11. Believes in the legends of the Emperor’s women born children, the Sensei, and search for any trace after them.

12. Each battle-brother has to partake in a pilgrimage to at least one place where it’s known (without any doubt) that the Emperor was before rising in rank to the next Company. This means that a first company member have been to ten places where the Emperor was, possibly the place for the pilgrimage before joining the 1:th Company is Holy Terra.

13. The Chapter guards one of the holy sites where the Emperor walked before His crippling.

14. Still believes in the old Imperial Truth of atheism and science, likely fanatically. Probably disdainful toward the Ecclesiarchy and anything they see as superstition.

15. While they have a deep and abiding faith in the Emperor of Mankind and venerate the Emperor as more than a man, do they not believe that He is divine.

16. A Chapter whose brothers sometimes fall into a “holy trance” in which they produced stigmata where Horus wounded the Emperor.

17. A Chapter whose Librarians/Chaplains/other specialist sometimes fall into a “holy trance” in which they produced stigmata where Horus wounded the Emperor.

18. A Chapter that believes the Emperor guides them and follows the guides of His tarot when making any larger decision.

19. A Chapter that fully believe in the Emperor’s divinity and are antagonistic against Chapters that don’t share that belief

20. A highly zealous Chapter that are fervent believers in the Imperial creed, they do not revere their ancestral primarch as most Chapters do, believing this to be a form of idolatry.

21. The Chapter believe that the Space Marines alone are the true inheritors of the Emperor, that they were made according to his perfect vision and that mere mortals (everyone else) are utterly inferior.

 

And here is another concepts list based around the concept of a Chapter that fully belives in the Emperor's divinity (there are some repeats from the list above)

1. A Chapter that considers mauls and powerclaws illfortune weapons since it was those that Horus used to wound the Emperor.

2. A pious, zealous and uncompromising Chapter.

3. Thuribles hang from all of the Chapter’s battle-brothers belts and/or weapons.

4. Closely allied with a Adepta Sororitas convent.

5. Have great respect for astropaths since they have stood before the Emperor.

6. A Chapter based solely on the use and study of the power of Imperial Faith that Chaplains utilize.

7. A Chapter that doesn’t have a Chapter-Master, instead its lead by a council consisting of the Chapter’s Chaplains.

8. A Chapter that has an unusual high amount of Chaplains.

9. A Chapter that frequently partner with the Ecclesiarchy in searching out archeotech, holy relics, and/or new sources of knowledge. This search/gather is likely often done to the point where these considerations outweigh other military factors.

10. A Chapter that is close to one of the esoteric, but still accepted (for now), fractions of the Ecclesiarchy. Is possibly highly invested in the fractions teachings.

11. Believes in the legends of the Emperor’s women born children, the Sensei, and search for any trace after them.

12. Each battle-brother has to partake in a pilgrimage to at least one place where it’s known (without any doubt) that the Emperor was before rising in rank to the next Company. This means that a first company member have been to ten places where the Emperor was, likely the place for the pilgrimage before joining the 1:th Company is Holy Terra.

13. The Chapter guards one of the holy sites where the Emperor walked before His crippling.

14. A Chapter that is close to one of the main fractions of the Ecclesiarchy.

15. See the Emperor as a god and themselves as semi-divine beings. Possibly have they a religious cult around themselves.

16. A Chapter that send its battle-brothers, at a certain point of their service, to serve as bodyguards to the VIP:s of the Ecclesiarchy. Possibly for the whole Ecclesiarchy, or maybe for just the Ecclesiarchy in the sector/sub-sector where the Chapter’s homeworld lay, or other.

17. A Chapter that is known to perform small forms of religious observance in its daily tasks.

18. Fight alongside an “auxilia” of religious zealots.

19. Recruit from the sons of pilgrims.

20. Recruit from a Shrine World.

21. Speak mostly in quotes from religious texts.

22. They guarded a pilgrimage route.

23. Protect a Adepta Sororitas shrine.

24. The Chapter is the caretakers of an Imperial Saint’s remains.

25. The Chapter’s vehicles and armour are usually covered in illuminated texts extracted from tomes sacred to the Adeptus Astartes.

26. A Chapter that works closely with one of the Orders of the Adepta Sororitas. Pick one of the Orders or roll a D10: 1) Orders Militant; 2) Orders Hospitaller; 3) Orders Dialogus; 4) Orders Famulous; 5) Orders Sabine; 6) Orders Pronatus 7) Orders Madriga; 8) Orders Planxilium; 9) Orders Vespila; 10) Order Fenestrus.

27. A Chapter that believes the Emperor guides them and follows the guides of His tarot when making any larger decision.

28. A Chapter that fully believe in the Emperor’s divinity and are antagonistic against Chapters that don’t share that belief.

29. Each battle-brother carries a portable shrine with them where they honour the Emperor.

30. The Chapter is also known for its extreme monastic nature, constantly studying the teachings of the Emperor. It’s likely that their vehicles and armour are usually covered in illuminated religious texts extracted from tomes sacred to the Adeptus Astartes.

31. The Chapter is monastic in nature with much time being given over to worship and prayer.

32. The Chapter is one with faith in the God-Emperor, and every battle-group is accompanied by groups of human clerics, mystics, and/or flagellants.

33. The Chapter is one with a strange faith in the God-Emperor, and they have been observed from distance, but never close up, to perform their mysterious rituals in hopes of calling down the God-Emperor’s powers.

34. Protect a Adepta Sororitas shrine.

35. Closely allied with a Adepta Sororitas convent.

36. Protects a Shrine World.

37. Are the direct rulers of a Shrine World.

38. Holds a human saint in high respect and follow their teaching in the ways they can. Possibly do they protect the saint’s remains (if any), important holy sites and/or followers.

39. Holds a group of human saints in high respect and follow their teaching in the ways they can. Likely protect the saints’ remains (if any), important holy sites and/or followers.

40. A Chapter whose brother’s sometime fall into a “holy trance” in which they produced stigmata where Horus wounded the Emperor.

41. Have a long and honourable history of fighting together with a specific Imperial Guard regiment recruited from a Shrine World.

42. A Chapter that secretly follow a controversial aspect of the Imperial faith that has been declared heretical.

43. The Chapter believe that the Space Marines alone are the true inheritors of the God-Emperor; that they were made according to His perfect vision and that mere mortals (everyone else) are utterly inferior.

44. See the Emperor as a god and themselves as semi-divine beings. Possibly have they a religious cult around themselves.

45. The Chapter care little for the citizens of the Imperium. Instead, they desire nothing less than the total extermination of the Emperor’s foes, believing that He will save the souls of the innocent and destroy those of the guilty.

 

Edited August 7, 2021 by Gamiel

[gripschi]

You wrote that there original world is destroyed. Was the warp storm a natural event or some foe created it?

 

Would make for a good story about a certain foe.

 

And how did it effect them? Did they carry old traditions on?

 

Maybe pick a culture which you like and use them as a lose frame to build your chapters culture.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

You wrote that there original world is destroyed. Was the warp storm a natural event or some foe created it?

 

Would make for a good story about a certain foe.

 

And how did it effect them?

Good points! Let's revisit the following:

Why founded: Crusade

 

<Snip.>

 

Deeds of Legend: Lost in a warp accident (Crusade fleet was lost while hunting Heretic Astartes)

 

Homeworld: Fleet-based (After the chapter’s homeworld (a feudal world) was destroyed during a warp storm. The chapter usually consists of three crusade fleets, operating independently from each other, to prevent another catastrophe like the one that destroyed their homeworld.)

Say the Chapter was originally Founded to guard the sector their Chapter planet was in. The Warp storm that destroyed the Chapter planet, started immediately before the [insert number] Black Crusade, leading the Marines to conclude (rightly or wrongly) Abaddon enacted a ritual that created this Warp storm, to weaken Imperial defenses in preparation for the Despoiler's attack. The surviving Marines then change their reason for being, from defense to offense, i.e., persecute crusades to punish the traitors for the latter's crimes.

 

That should add a lot of history to your Chapter, along with a lot of character, e.g., give them a most hated foe, for whom they will sacrifice almost anything to destroy.

[Gamiel]

 

You wrote that there original world is destroyed. Was the warp storm a natural event or some foe created it?

 

Would make for a good story about a certain foe.

 

And how did it effect them?

Good points! Let's revisit the following:

Why founded: Crusade

 

<Snip.>

 

Deeds of Legend: Lost in a warp accident (Crusade fleet was lost while hunting Heretic Astartes)

 

Homeworld: Fleet-based (After the chapter’s homeworld (a feudal world) was destroyed during a warp storm. The chapter usually consists of three crusade fleets, operating independently from each other, to prevent another catastrophe like the one that destroyed their homeworld.)

Say the Chapter was originally Founded to guard the sector their Chapter planet was in. The Warp storm that destroyed the Chapter planet, started immediately before the [insert number] Black Crusade, leading the Marines to conclude (rightly or wrongly) Abaddon enacted a ritual that created this Warp storm, to weaken Imperial defenses in preparation for the Despoiler's attack. The surviving Marines then change their reason for being, from defense to offense, i.e., persecute crusades to punish the traitors for the latter's crimes.

 

That should add a lot of history to your Chapter, along with a lot of character, e.g., give them a most hated foe, for whom they will sacrifice almost anything to destroy.

 

Another possebility, or something that could be added to the above, is that maybe the lose of their homeworld also resulted in a great loss in history for the chapter, maybe resulting in the chapter now not just crusade to hunt/meet the imp's enemies but also to hunt for knowledge about their past.

 

This could also mean that thay lost much of their arsenal and/or artificer armour/arms/such since they were used defending their homeworld to the end, or was locked away.

[Minigiant]

I personally think Yellow Templars is a real opportunity for something a little different (If you are willing for your chapter to be a little bit tragic in their history).

As was mentioned yellow can be considered cowardice (But it also represents Madness & Insanity which is another option/direction). What if your chapter took on the name Yellow Templar as a result of a massive failure on their part. They can have a former name they hope to reclaim once they have atoned for one mass act of cowardice.

As they are a crusading chapter a penitent crusade makes sense. I think it should be in response to losing their homework.

As a descendant of Rogal Dorn, retreating could be cowardly

Edited August 14, 2021 by Minigiant

[Gamiel]

I personally think Yellow Templars is a real opportunity for something a little different (If you are willing for your chapter to be a little bit tragic in their history).

 

As was mentioned yellow can be considered cowardice. What if your chapter took on the name Yellow Templar as a result of a massive failure on their part. They can have a former name they hope to reclaim once they have atoned for one mass act of cowardice.

 

As they are a crusading chapter a penitent crusade makes sense. I think it should be in response to losing their homework.

 

As a descendant of Rogal Dorn, retreating could be cowardly

But would a descendant of Dorn (or anybody with knowledge of the IF, which the YT should have since they are allied with the Black Templars) consider yellow a cowardly colour?

[Minigiant]

 

 

I personally think Yellow Templars is a real opportunity for something a little different (If you are willing for your chapter to be a little bit tragic in their history).

 

As was mentioned yellow can be considered cowardice. What if your chapter took on the name Yellow Templar as a result of a massive failure on their part. They can have a former name they hope to reclaim once they have atoned for one mass act of cowardice.

 

As they are a crusading chapter a penitent crusade makes sense. I think it should be in response to losing their homework.

 

As a descendant of Rogal Dorn, retreating could be cowardly

But would a descendant of Dorn (or anybody with knowledge of the IF, which the YT should have since they are allied with the Black Templars) consider yellow a cowardly colour?

That could easily be a home world thing, and I think it would be cool to have some seed brother tension Edited August 8, 2021 by Minigiant

[Commander Nicky]

 

 

You wrote that there original world is destroyed. Was the warp storm a natural event or some foe created it?

 

Would make for a good story about a certain foe.

 

And how did it effect them?

Good points! Let's revisit the following:

Why founded: Crusade

 

<Snip.>

 

Deeds of Legend: Lost in a warp accident (Crusade fleet was lost while hunting Heretic Astartes)

 

Homeworld: Fleet-based (After the chapter’s homeworld (a feudal world) was destroyed during a warp storm. The chapter usually consists of three crusade fleets, operating independently from each other, to prevent another catastrophe like the one that destroyed their homeworld.)

Say the Chapter was originally Founded to guard the sector their Chapter planet was in. The Warp storm that destroyed the Chapter planet, started immediately before the [insert number] Black Crusade, leading the Marines to conclude (rightly or wrongly) Abaddon enacted a ritual that created this Warp storm, to weaken Imperial defenses in preparation for the Despoiler's attack. The surviving Marines then change their reason for being, from defense to offense, i.e., persecute crusades to punish the traitors for the latter's crimes.

 

That should add a lot of history to your Chapter, along with a lot of character, e.g., give them a most hated foe, for whom they will sacrifice almost anything to destroy.

 

Another possebility, or something that could be added to the above, is that maybe the lose of their homeworld also resulted in a great loss in history for the chapter, maybe resulting in the chapter now not just crusade to hunt/meet the imp's enemies but also to hunt for knowledge about their past.

 

This could also mean that thay lost much of their arsenal and/or artificer armour/arms/such since they were used defending their homeworld to the end, or was locked away.

 

You could also, in addition to what Brother Bjørn Firewalker suggested, make the chapter world being a pilegrim/sacred site and the Chapter recruiting the stronget and must fathfull of the young men into their brotherhood. The Chapter were their world' and its pilegrim's roads' guardings. When the Chapter were engage in another campaign, their world was consumed by a Warp storm and they took this as a punishment from the Emperor for their "lack of faith". Having lost the their homeworld, they also lost their history...

 

They could also have uncovered some text, which could have destroyed the foundation of their culture (like the imperial truth), and, in and act of desperation destroyed their world so as to contain these heretical "lies" from spreding doubts into the minds of the faithfull...

 

Also, as a chapter organization: they could have a "yellow Council" (or golden/auric council if you decide to chance the chapter name). This council (which is kind of a rip of from the Word Bearer's Dark Council) could here consist of the Chapter Master (or Grand Master as to make it more templar like :D), The Master of Sanctity (The Holy Archfather), The Reclusiarch (The Grand Preacher) and some captains and/or Chaplains (or a combination of both... lest call them Paladins simply)... Then the Chapter could be divided into three battle groups or crusades, each with a leader from the Yellow Council (the Grand Master, the Holy Father and The Grand Preacher resp)...

[Gamiel]

A simple way to give your Chapter a bit of character is their naming tradition, after all a bunch of Black Templar-ish marines with Le Morte d'Arthur inspired names give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Korean names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Old Testament names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with names based on Demons and Babylonian gods, etc.

[Minigiant]

A simple way to give your Chapter a bit of character is their naming tradition, after all a bunch of Black Templar-ish marines with Le Morte d'Arthur inspired names give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Korean names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Old Testament names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with names based on Demons and Babylonian gods, etc.

This is a good point. I would add though that some names are a little too on the nose. Brother Arthur for example. What I like to do in this situation is remove a consonant

 

For example

 

Brother Arthur - Brother Artur

Brother Kato - Brother Kao

[Gamiel]

 

A simple way to give your Chapter a bit of character is their naming tradition, after all a bunch of Black Templar-ish marines with Le Morte d'Arthur inspired names give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Korean names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Old Testament names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with names based on Demons and Babylonian gods, etc.

This is a good point. I would add though that some names are a little too on the nose. Brother Arthur for example. What I like to do in this situation is remove a consonant

For example

Brother Arthur - Brother Artur

Brother Kato - Brother Kao

I would say that Chapter-master Arthur would be on the nose, but battle-brother Arthur of 5th company, 3d squad, would not be.

[Gamiel]

A simple way to give your Chapter a bit of character is their naming tradition, after all a bunch of Black Templar-ish marines with Le Morte d'Arthur inspired names give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Korean names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with Old Testament names, which give another impression than the same bunch of marines with names based on Demons and Babylonian gods, etc.

Also throwing in a name or two that don't fit with the rest could be a way to show their history, either implying an older naming tradition before their current one (maybe from their founding Chapter) or that some of the battle-brothers have been given names of allies/similar.

[Maritn]

Sorry for the long delay, I only got around to reading the linked examples yesterday.

 

@Brother Tyler, you've got a really good point regarding how many details are appropriate. I will rethink how many details I really need to make them flavourful, and use the great input from all of you. Thanks a lot!

 

Regarding names, I was planning on using the Black Templar names table from Faith and Fury, extended with some names of knights / dukes / commanders from the crusades or Catholic saints, as I want them to be more of a 12th century crusade kind of knights order.

 

Also, with the reveal of the Emperor's Champion and the rumours of even more models to come, I'm getting more and more tempted to also start Black Templars army (and almost feeling remorse not going straight BT when I started during 8th :-/ ), so I'm looking for a way to either

A) have my DIY chapter feel different from the BT on the table

B ) use my DIY in conjunction with the BT when I want to use stuff my BT collection does not have (e.g. my Executioner which I'm quite proud of, all models using BT ruleset) or

C) just integrate the new models (including the special characters) into my chapter and play everything as count-as BT.

Edited August 20, 2021 by Maritn

[Minigiant]

A) have my DIY chapter feel different from the BT on the table

B ) use my DIY in conjunction with the BT when I want to use stuff my BT collection does not have (e.g. my Executioner which I'm quite proud of, all models using BT ruleset) or

C) just integrate the new models (including the special characters) into my chapter and play everything as count-as BT.

A) Surely that is very easy. You already use different Chapter Tactics. Use different units, and play different army lists.

 

B) Painting the new BT stuff Yellow to match is what we call 'Grey Marines' they can be anything. Pick up a BAAL predator and paint it yellow and you can play Blood Angels if you wish

 

C) Can you find anything that can count as something else? The Emperors Champion miniature being used as a model in the Honor Guard?